My Favourite Autumn Films

I’ve always felt an affinity for autumn. Walks on crisp Autumn days, the beautiful changing scenery full of reds and burnt oranges, cinnamon & cloves, seasonal drinks, darker nights and plenty of events to look forward to. Oh, not to mention how superior Autumn/Winter fashion is to Spring/Summer.

 In summer, you can almost feel obligated to be busy and to make the most of the warmer weather and lighter evenings. In autumn it is more acceptable to cosy up with a blanket on the sofa with a cup of hot chocolate and coorie in. 

One of my favourite things to do on dark Autumn evenings is to pop on a film and I always find myself watching films full of autumn visuals. Films that don’t necessarily revolve around the season but definitely features it in one way or another.

There are five films I always seem to gravitate to as soon as we enter September. If you are looking for some quintessential Autumn viewing then grab yourself a blanket, a hot drink and stick on one of the following.  

When Harry Met Sally

You’ll probably notice when going through this list that a couple of my favourite Romantic films are also appearing in my favourite autumn movie list. It can’t be just me that finds Autumn quite a romantic season?

When Harry Met Sally gives me all the Autumn feels and makes me want to grab my boyfriend and take a long walk in a park around Glasgow. It may not be Central Park but Kelvingrove or Queens Park is the next best thing.

This film is my ultimate Autumn film. My friend Joana and I love to watch this every year and gush over the visuals, fashion and just the story in general.

Sally Albright’s Autumn/Winter wardrobe is my absolute dream! Sidenote: watching this film the other month inspired me to purchase a gorgeous tan double-breasted blazer. I love pairing it with a turtleneck or plain t-shirt, I don’t think I’ve ever looked so effortlessly chic and sophisticated!

You’ve Got Mail

Like all films on my list, this film transcends seasons but I always feel a need to watch this as I notice the changing colour of the leaves.  

“Don’t you love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.”

My spirit animal is Kathleen Kelly walking about New York in the fall, pumpkin in hand and ending up in her quaint little bookshop. 

You’ve Got Mail is one of those films that watching in the present day with a critical eye, it may not have necessarily aged well. But it reminds me of simpler times at the beginning of the digital age when you not everyone you met online was a catfish or a troll and it makes me hopeful that human connections are still out there to be made.

Harry Potter Series

As a lifetime fan of Harry Potter, I always find myself re-watching around about this time of year as if I am starting the school year with Harry and the gang.

The wonder of catching the Hogwarts Express from Platform 9 ¾ and joining the Golden Trio at the Welcome Feast is too much to resist. As the coffee shops start offering Pumpkin Spiced Lattes and similarly sweet concoctions, it’s not hard to imagine yourself in The Three Broomsticks sipping a Butterbeer discussing the latest Hogwarts gossip.

Despite my favourite book from the series being the Goblet of Fire, my favourite films have to be the Philosopher’s Stone and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Arguably the better films of the full series (in my opinion). The Philosopher’s Stone has always been a firm favourite as no other quite captures the sense of magic quite like it. I still feel a sense of wonder, even as an adult, as they walk into the Great Hall and look up at the bewitched ceiling for the very first time. The Prisoner of Azkaban is so visually stunning that it is frequently hailed as the best of the series. Just scenes with the time turner and the trio hiding in Hagrid’s giant pumpkin patch are just… *Chef’s Kiss*.

To Kill A Mockingbird

As I mentioned in “What I Read – Autumn 2018”, I read To Kill a Mockingbird every Autumn. And after finishing the book, I like to watch the film. A lot of the plot progresses along with the seasons especially as summer comes to an end and the children return to the classroom. 

Autumn is the most nostalgic of all seasons and this film makes me feel nostalgic on all levels. I have fond memories of studying To Kill a Mockingbird for the first time in English class and falling in love. I always felt a strong kinship with Scout. A bob and dungarees, playing in the dirt and devouring books – young Scout and I were one and the same. This film makes me yearn for childhood and the ability to look at the world with a childlike perspective.

And on an unrelated note, it definitely helps that Gregory Peck is an absolute dish.

The Princess Bride

Is there a Fantasy/Adventure film greater than the Princess Bride? Inconceivable. Rob Reiner and Billy Crystal are back at it again to fulfil my autumnal movie needs. 

Not a fairytale in a traditional sense but action-packed, lighthearted, witty and endlessly quotable. Not to mention the cinematography of this fantasy classic is breathtakingly beautiful. 

William Golden’s imagined world of Florin was brought to life in film form and I fell in love. The Fire Swap may be full of unimaginable horrors, including R.O.U.S (rodents of unusual size), but if it doesn’t seem like a fantastic autumnal walk?

There have been rumours whispered recently that there are plans to reboot The Princess Bride and to that, I only have one thing to say. I will find the cash-grabbing Hollywood Execs that think this is a good idea and fight them. To the pain.

Most of my favourite autumn films, you could argue, aren’t really autumn but they do fill me with a warmth that only comes with this time of year. What are your favourite films to watch on an Autumn day? Let me know which films I need to add to my list!

If you would like to know my favourite romantic films, click here.

Until next time,

Ashleigh x

 

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